Our trees were always loaded up with the tinsel. But you had to put it on one strand at a time, or mom and dad would not let you help! Then I hated it, but now I love it too...I like the chairs wood and I think they would look nice white~I know you are gonna do it and I can't wait to see them!

I go back and forth on the tinsel. I think my in-laws influence the negative part. They used it every year and it was all crinkle.I love the wood on the pink chair. I think it would be pretty white as well. I am wondering if it would be kinda hard to paint it.

I almost bought some tinsel yesterday but the thought of it being all over the floor stopped me. I love the look and may go back to get some - it was on sale for .40 a box! As for painting the wood on your chair white, I would have a tough time doing that - the wood is really pretty!

I loved to put tinsel on the tree as a child...never used it on my trees, though...and, I tthink you should go for the white paint! Don't distress it just yet...let time and your puppies do that for you!

All of our trees growing up were short, fat and full of tinsel! Remember the tree in "The Bishops Wife' when Cary Grant magically loaded it with decorations and tinsel?? It's one of my favorite parts of the movie...and it's in black and white but still looks beautiful! I like the wood on your furniture but I think it would look fab a distressed white too!~Hugs, Patti

I like the look of tinsel in other people's houses.... However, tinsel tends to find its way into my vacuum cleaner and bind up the beater bar... That and plastic Easter grass (for the same reason) have been banned from our household since about 1996. LOL

I've always loved them. My tree doesn't have them this year because my cat insists on eating them. :( LOVE your pink sofa! And also the vintage black and white photos are great. They really DID use a lot of tinsel back then. :)

I LOVE tinsel and its "retroness" but I was totally bummed out to find out that it contains really high levels of lead, so if you have pets/kids, I don't recommend it. Also, they say try to re-use as much as you can for next year so that the lead doesn't make its way into landfills/waterways. I really really want to put some on our tree but I MUST...RESIST... :)

I like tinsel on a tree, the way it would move a little and sparkle in the breeze. But my parents would get mad at me for putting clumps on at a time...and then there was the tinsel hanging out the dog's butt...that was never good. Pulling it off the fake tree one strand at a time so Dad could pack it away nice and neat was just too much for my young patience to bear.Suddenly one year, we just stoppeduseing the tinsel, to this day I have never used it on my tree... but I do like the look of it. As for painting the wood white, I think you will make it look great! A reader of your Mod Mix Monday did something similar with painted wood at it turned out fabulous!Nita,Now that you've worked at Pier 1 a while, do you find yourself pointing out all the Pier 1 furniture and knick knacks in TV shows, Movies, and model homes? I STILL do it, and it drives my wife crazy. We'll be watching a dramatic scene and they'll walk by dresser that I'll recognize and say "Pier 1" and point. She'll whisper "will you STOP THAT"? I guess they have a big Pier 1 right across the street from one of the major studio lots. If you arn't doing it yet you soon will be.Take care,Adam

I find myself debating change as well. Sometimes wondering what someone will think of it. I've decided that life's short. If you want white trim, make it white. If you hate it, it was still worth a try and can be undone or changed until it's just right. You know when you're right and I'll agree, wood/stain is a color and it doesn't do the pink any justice.

I love tinsel on trees but don't use it due to the kitties trying to eat it and pulling it off the tree and it ending up everywhere. I have a fear of them choking on it or some other horrific disaster from it.

I vote YES, YES, YES for painting the trim on your sofa...and I'm not saying that because I happen to be a painter, either. But having seen the lovely photos of your home, white ( or some other sherbet color ) would be perfect for your decor.

Check out thedecoraologist.com, November 18 posting....she painted hers, and it looks fabulous!

As for the tinsel, not a good idea at our house. The cats eat it and that leads to a holiday visit to the emergency vet service...then there was the season one of them ate the straw from the creche. Curly ribbon is another delicacy, as is Easter basket grass, and rubber bands, and towels....

As a kid, we tinseled up the tree - - with the fully leaded stuff. It was a pain to put on and take off, and I really never cared for the look of it. I much prefer my beaded garland and wired ribbon instead. But on your white tree, with the pink and aqua/teal balls, I think it looks retro-cool with a bit of "wow" factor. Tinsel almost begs for some Shiny Brites, you know? -- HollyM

It looks so amazing in the vintage photos but I think it would drive me crazy. Hubby thinks it's needed for a tree to be a Christmas tree, but in the 13 years we have been married we have never used it.

We always had tinsel as a child - and I always loved it. DH does not like it so much - mainly because it tends to end up in lots of places other than just on the tree. I need to do something more to my tree this year, though - maybe I garland. As for your furniture - I love the wood! But either way, I'm sure it will look great. I'm new to your blog - LOVE it! :)

Hi Nita,We always had tinsel on our tree when I was little but I don't remember ever putting it on our as a married couple but that's been 43 years ago! Twinkle lights and big gold garland were the rage in 1968 so I think we went with the trend. As for your beautiful French chair I say paint it. It will make the scroll work pop. It will be tricky with it already being upholstered (I'm assuming you are not changing that) but it can be done. Remember, painter's tape is your friend and it will help mask off the upholstery. I don't know how to attach pics to the comment field so check your email. I sent a before and after pic of an upholstered Louis XV chair that I painted white and I love the way it turned out!Helen in Ft Worth

I like tinsel on real trees with vintage ornaments. I think the old tinsel had a bit of lead in it, which is why it doesen't look so nice now.

As for your chair, I would leave it. The chair is clearly old and the wood is beautifully turned and not too dark. If it was some crappy mass produced piece of furniture, I would say go for it. Have you considered removing the varnish and lightening it a bit with bleach? It is your chair and you can do what you want with it. I like it the way it is and think it goes nicely with your house and the other furniture.

Yes, go for it dear lady, it will be gorgeous and you will so glad you did.i loved the icicles, but I have never enjoyed putting them on the tree. I stopped when we got a cat, it's so dangerous for them.Hugs, Cindy

I say go for it! I have realized lately that I often hold back on my ideas, even though I know they are good. Then when I do finally finish, I wonder why I waiting so long! It might look really pretty distressed, too. You can't go wrong Nita, your ideas are always great.

my grandmother worked in a tinsel factory when she was a girl (can you believe that?! I'm sure it was real lead back then too!!) so I am partial to tinsel. We did not use it growing up, my parents had trees that looked like the ones above, SOOOO much tinsel you couldn't see the tree!And I would not even THINK twice about painting the wood on the chair/sofa!! AB SO LUTE LY!!!!

I loved the icicles then and I love them now. You have the right kind of tree to put them on. I'm a big chicken when it comes to painting over pretty wood but if anyone can make it look good you can! Go for it!

The tinsel, I have mixed feelings about. But, since it is vintage, that makes me want to use it also :) The chair, well, I usually am not a fan of painting over any wood furniture surface (esp if it is an antique), but a washed antique white could look good on that chair. Either that or reupholster it in another color of fabric. Maybe a small print fabric?